Transfer machine



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United TRANSFER MACE-HNE Henry Richter, Kankakee, lli., assigner to Paramount Textile Machinery Co., Kankakee, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application ctober 2li, 1955, Serial No. 542,44@

8 Claims. (Cl. 4in-1) This invention relates to improvements in transfer machines adapted for use in the hosiery industry for transferring to the hosiery indicia, carried by a tape or the like, which give information as to size, material, name of manufacturer, and the like. The present invention is a modification of that which is described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 447,303, filed August 2, 1954, now U.S. Patent No, 2,843,956. These indicia are commonly formed of wax-like material which is transferred to the hosiery by the application of heat and pressure.

In the hosiery trade there has developed an increasing demand for these imprinted markings or indicia to appear on the exposed heel portion opposite the side of the exposed sole and toe, when the hosiery is folded in the normal manner for packaging and later display.

ln hosiery, a medial line longitudinally through the foot section and a medial line longitudinally through tl e ankle section form an angle, where they meet in the heel of approximately 55 degrees. When the hosiery is folded the fold is on a line approximately bisecting that angle and extending across the hosiery from the rear curve of the heel to the opposite curve in the front. Thus, the fold divides the heel section into almost equal parts exposed on opposite sides of the folded hosiery. These heel parts `are referred to, in the trade, as the foot por- I tion of the heel and the boot portion of the heel.

Markings are generally made on one, two, or three parts of hosiery: viz., sole, heel, and/or toe. The trade recently has begun to demand that the heel markings appear on the opposite side from the sole and/or toe markings, when the hosiery is folded with the boot portion over on the foot portion. This is to make it possible to see the size markings on opposite sides of the pairs of folded hosiery when in packages or on display.

in the interest of expediting production manufacturers now have the hosiery folded at the time of mating or pairing the hosiery when it comes from the knitting machines.

Heretofore, automatic machine imprinting of markings on hosiery has had to be done with the pairs of hosiery unfolded, i.e. laid out at, so that the imprinting of all three portions could be done at the same time. Obviously, in piece-paid work it is not possible for the operator to so place the hosiery on the machine as to insure the imprinting on the heel exactly in the same spot on successive imprintings; i.e. not unless there were guides for positioning the hosiery. Accordingly, in most instances, the heel markings at times may be on the foot portion of the heel, or on the boot portion, or in between these portions. Hence, when such imprinted hosiery has been subsequently folded the heel markings may or may not appear on the opposite side ot' the folded hosiery from the sole and/ or toe markings.

Since, heretofore, it has never been possible to imprint markings by automatic machines on folded hosiery, the pairs of hosiery have had to come to the machine unfolded or, if folded, have had .to be unfolded before 2,839,548 Patented ninne 9, i959 ice imprinting and then refolded after imprinting. These xtra movements slow up production over that which can be attained by imprinting onv the boot portion of the heel when the hosiery is folded.

The main objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide an improved transfer machine for imprinting indicia on opposite sides of various kinds of articles as they pass the transfer position; to provide an improved transfer machine for printing indicia on the opposite exposed sides of folded hosiery; to provide an improved transfer machine for imprinting indicia on the upwardly-exposed section of folded hosiery, either independently or simultaneously with the imprinting of indicia on the downwardly-exposed sole and/or toe of hosiery; to provide in a machine of this kind improved overhead transfer mechanism for imprinting indicia on the heel or" conventionallyfolded hosiery; to provide in a machine of this kind improved mechanism for synchronizing the step-by-step advance of the indicia tape with the hosiery conveyor when only the hosiery heel is being imprinted and with the indicia tapes for imprinting simultaneously the heel and the sole and/ or toe of hosiery; to provide in a transfer machine of this kind improved means for positioning indicia tape in proper registering position on the machine; to provide in la transfer machine of this kind improved means for effecting the intermittent step-by-step advance and arresting of the indicia tapes at transfer position; to provide in a transfer machine of this kind improved conveyor belt for use with an overhead transfer mechanism; and to provide such an improved conveyor belt as will permit the overhead imprinting on the sole and toe of juvenile hosiery as well as on the upwardly-exposed heel of conventionally-folded adult hosiery.

ln the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view, from the left front, of a. transfer machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an opposite side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan View;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective of a section of one of the conveyor belts and one of the roller link chain conveyors, showing how the two are fastened together so as to move in unison;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective of a section of one of the roller link chain conveyors;

Fig. 6 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 6 6 of Fig. 2, part of the table top construction being omitted to facilitate the showing of the driving clutch mechanisms;

Fig. 7 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the plane of the line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. S is an enlarged side view of one of the many over-running clutches used in this machine, the view being taken on the plane of the line 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view of one of the several brake shoe mechanisms used in the machine for stopping the rotation of shafts when the clutches are disengaged, the view being taken on the plane of the line 9--9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the under-table heating shoes and their operating mechanism;

Fig. 1l is a perspective View of one of the two indicia- Fig. `16 is a diagram of the electrical circuits, various switches, and other accessories required for the operation of the machine; and

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of one of the switches which control the stopping of the hosiery conveyors and the tapes at transfer position, the view being taken Yon the plane of the line -15 of Fig. 3.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings as being embodied in a machine comprising a frame 2i; having legs 20a, adapted to rest upon the iioor, lower longitudinal side frame members 20b, upper longitudinal side frame members 20c, and transverse end frame members 20d, which members support a fiat horizontal table top 21 over which the transfer operations take place. This table top has, at the forward end of the machine, two longitudinal side portions 21a and four parallel intermediate portions 2lb, 21e, 21d, and 21e over which the hosiery-conveyor belts and 25a move and above and over which the indicia-carrying tapes 22, 23, and 24 are respectively yadapted to move relative to the hosiery H to which the indicia are to be transferred at the transfer position. The tape 22 is above the path of the hosiery and the tapes 23 and 24 are -below that path. The adjacent edges of the table portions are connected by depressed portions which form parallel longitudinal grooves occupied by the upper stretches of the endless rollerchain conveyors 26, 27, 2S, 29, and 30 which with the belts 25 and 25a move the hosiery H rearwardly to the transfer position.

Above the table 21, and disposed transversely thereof, a little rearwardly of the transverse median, a narrow platform 70 is supported on brackets 7l. The platform 70 mounts an upright sub-frame 72, a pair of standards 73, bearing blocks 74, and a rearwardly-extending bracket 75 (see Figs. 2 and 6). On this platform 76 and these several parts is arranged the operating mechanism for the indicia tape 22, as presently will be described fully.

The transfer position is adjacent the rear ends of the table portions 2lb, 21e, 21d, and 21e, vwhere the hosiery H is pressed downwardly by the heating shoe 44 and the pressure platens 45 and 46 mounted on the overhead bar 76 supported on the reciprocating posts 77. Below the conveyor belt 25, in talinement with the heating shoe 44 is a soft rubber pad 78 (see Fig. 2) to cushion the shoe 44 when it is lowered into transferring position. The platens 45 and 46 are secured to the bar 76 above the heating shoes 48 and 49 located below the tapes 23 and 24. This bar '76 is actuated at the proper times when the heel, sole, and toe portions, respectively, of the hosiery are beneath the shoe 44 and the platens 45 and 46, and when the indicia on the respective tapes 22, 23, and 24 are in proper position to be pressed against the corresponding parts of the hosiery.

The tapes 22, 23, and 24 carry raised indicia 31 which are spaced uniformly apart, with the same spacing on each tape, and they are supplied from coils 32, 33, and 34, respectively. The coil 32 is mounted on a rotatable shaft on the bracket 75 of the sub-frame 70. The other two coils 33 and 34 are mounted on rotatable shafts 35a and 35b journaled in bearings carried by the vertical frame members 20e below the table top 21 (Fig. 2).

` The indicia tape 22, from which indicia are to be transferred to the upper sides of the hosiery, extends from the coil 32 through a switch-actuating device 37, around rollers 79 and 8i?, on an adjustable bracket 8l extending upwardly from the overhead bar 76, then over rollers 82 and 82a on the heating shoe 44 and from thence over a roller 82h to and between the knurled feed roll 83 and the smooth contact roller 84, then back to the winding reel 5t). The reel 5t) is secured to a shaft Sila journaled on the far end of the bracket 75 extending rearwardly from the platform 70 and is power driven to wind the tape intermittently as it is withdrawn from the reel.

The knurled tape-feed roller 83 is free to rotate on a shaft 83a journaled on the bearing standards4 74 and this shaft has fixed thereon a hand wheel 132. A clutch 90, comprising the elements 91 and 92, rotatively connects the tape feed roll S3 with the shaft 83a (Fig. 6). The clutch element 91 is fixed to the roll 83 whereas the element 9i. is slidably splined on the shaft 83a and by a spring 93 is pressed into driving relation with the element 91. The clutch element 92 is retractable against the action of the spring 93 by a lever 95 connected to a solenoid 94 by a link 94a. The yoke 96 of the lever 9S has its pins 96a seated in an annular groove 92a in the clutch element 92. rThe smooth roller 84 is mounted on an arm 84a pivoted to the subframe 72 and the arm is urged by a spring 84h so that the roller will yieldingly press the tape 22 into contact with the knurled roll 83 (Fig. 2).

The tapes 23 and 24 extend from coils 33 and 34 mounted on rotatable shafts 35a and 35h carried by frame members Zile around a roller 36 on the front under side of the frame 20 (see Fig. 2) and thence upwardly through the respective switch-actuating devices 37 and 37a to points where they pass over rolls 39 and 40 preliminary to passing over the table sections 21C and 21d. The tapes 23 and 24 are held in contact with the rolls 39 and 4t) by rollers 41 (see Fig. 13) mounted on the upper ends of arms 42 which are pivoted at 43a on brackets 43 carried by the frame 2G. The rollers 41 are maintained on the tapes by springs 42a so that the tapes 23 and 24 are positively moved reawardly over the table when the rolls 39 and 4G are driven by a drive shaft as will be explained hereinafter.

These tapes 23 and 24, from which indicia are to be transferred to the under sides of the hosiery, run along the table sections 21e and 21d to points just beyond the transfer station -where they turn over wires 117 and 118, respectively, (see Fig. 3) down through the table top to a roller 119 (Fig. 2) to the respective winding reels 5l and 52.

The conveyor belts 25 and 25a are secured along one edge to the respective roller-chain conveyors 26 and 30 by a succession of clamps 47 and 47a, respectively, so as to move in unison therewith (Figs. 3 and 4). The belt 25 is much wider than the belt 25a and is a primary influencesometimes the sole influence-in moving the hosiery from the front of the machine to the transfer position. The conveyor belt 25a is an auxiliary inuencc in advancing the folded-over leg portion of the longer or knee type of hosiery, the top of which extends considerably beyond the toe of the folded-over hosiery. These belts 25 and 25a travel along the table-top portions 21b and 21e respectively.

For the disclosure of the means for supporting the forward portions of the conveyor belts 25 and 25a, the indicia tapes 23 and 24, and the roller-chain conveyors 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, reference may be had to Figs. 3 and 7. There it is shown that the conveyor belts 25 and 25a pass around rollers 38 and 38a respectively, and the roller-chain conveyors 26, 27, 28, 29, and 3d) pass around sprockets 55, 56,- 57, 58, and 59, all of which are mounted on a composite shaft 60 made up of a hollow shaft 60h and a solid shaft 60a. The shaft sections 60a and 60h are capable of being turned manu ally by hand wheels 62 and 63, respectively, which are secured on the projecting ends of the shafts 60a and 6tlb. The shaft 60 is journaled on bearings 65 xed on the side frame members 20c. Collars 66 are secured on the shaft sections adjacent Ithe bearings to hold the shaft against outward end-wise movement,

The roll 38 is keyed to both sprockets 55 and 56 by pins 64 and 64a (Fig. 7) and the roll 39 is keyed to both sprockets 56 'and 57 by pins 64b and 64C, and this assembly is journaled on the shaft 60a by ball bearings 67. The roll 40 is keyed to the sprocket 58 by a pin 64d and the roll 38a is keyed to both the sprockets 58 and 59 by pins 64e and 64f, and this assembly is iournaled on the shaft ilb by ball bearings 68.

interconnected between and to the sprocket 157 and shaft section 60a is a conventional over-running clutch 61, as shown in Fig. 8. Similar over-running clutches 69a and 69 are interposed between the sprocket 59 and the shaft section 60b and between the hand wheel 63 and the shaft 60b, respectively. These clutches 61, 69, and 69a permit the turning of the shaft sections 60a and 60b, respectively, by the hand wheels 62 and 63 for `the abovementioned purpose of adjusting the tapes 23 and 24 to establish proper registering of the tape indicia at the transfer position.

Each link of the roller-chain conveyors 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 mounts an over-chain belt link 97 (see Figs. 5 and 6) having a hole wherein is set a friction grommet 93 of rubber or comparable material. When the hosiery H is resting on these grommets 98 it is carried along, without shifting, from the front of the machine to the transfer position.

The chain conveyors 26 and 30 and Vtheir attached belts and 25a extend the entire length of the table 21 (Fig. 3). The chain conveyors 26 and 30 are looped around sprockets 99 and 100 on a shaft 101 journaled in bearings 102 adjacent the top of the table 21. The lower run of the chain conveyor and its attached belt 25a medially of the frame 20 is looped downwardly around sprockets 129, 130, and 131 (Fig. 2) below the drive-shaft clutch operating mechanisms presently to be described. The chain conveyors 27, 28, and 29 extend along the table 21 (Fig. 3) to points slightly beyond the transfer position where they loop around sprockets 86, 87, and 88 on the drive shaft 85.

As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 6, the sprockets 86, 87, and 88 mesh with the chains 27, 28, and 29 which have driving connections through the shaft 60 with the rolls 38, 39, and 38a (see Fig. 7). The sprockets S6, 87, and 88 are connected in driving relation with the shaft 85 by clutches 103 and 104, respectively, to aect the desired movements of the rollerchain conveyors 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30.

The clutch 103 (Fig. 6) includes the complementary elements 105 and 106. The clutch element 105 is secured to the sprocket 87 through an intermediate sprocket 89 which drives the wind-up reels 51 and 52, as will be described hereinafter. The clutch element 106 is slidably splined to the shaft 85 and is normally urged into engagement with the element 106 by the spring 107. The clutch element 106 is retractable against the action of the spring 107 by a lever 108 'actuated by a solenoid 109. seated in the annular groove 106a of the element 106.

The clutch 104 includes the complementary elements 111 and 112 respectively secured to the sprocket 88 and slidably splined on the shaft 85. The clutch element 112 is normally urged into engagement with the element 111 by a spring 113. The element 112 is retractable against the action of that spring 113 by a lever 114 actuated by a solenoid 115. The yoke 116 of the lever 114 has its yoke pins 116:1 seated in the annular groove 112a of the element 112.

Each of the shaft sections a and 60b is engaged by opposed brake shoes 120 formed at the upper end of brake levers 121 pivoted at 122 on the respective bearings (see Figs. 7 and 9). The lower ends of each pair of levers 121 are separated by a compression spring 123 mounted on lugs 124 so that the shoes 120 are -normally pressed into engagement with the respective shaft sections 60a and 60b. This is to arrest promptly any movement of these shaft sections 60a and/or 60b and their connected parts, when the rotation of the sprockets 06, 87 and 38, on the drive shaft 85, have been checked by the retraction of their respective clutches 103 and 104. A similar pair of brake shoes 12011 is arranged on the shaft 83a (Fig. 6). The compression of the spring 123 may be adjusted by a screw 125 to vary the pressure of The yoke 110 of the lever 108 has its pins 110a 6. the brake shoes on the respective shaft sections 60a and 60b and shaft 83a.

Between the sprockets 86 and 87, on the drive shaft 85, is mounted a crown pulley 126 (Figs. 3 and 6) which carries an endless conveyor belt 127 extending rearwardly along the table 21 and around a pulley 128 keyed to rotate with the shaft 101. This conveyor belt 127 coacts with the conveyor, belts 25 and 25a to carry rearwardly over the table from the transfer position the hosiery to which the indicia have been applied.

The driving shaft 85 is adapted to be rotated intermittently by driving connections extending to the end of this shaft from an electric motor as shown particularly in Fig. 2. The motor 145 has a sprocket gear 146 .secured on its shaft and arranged to mesh with an endless sprocket chain 147 which drives a large sprocket gear 148 xed upon the cam shaft 149. (See Figs. l and 2.) This cam shaft 149 is journaled in bearings carried by the upright side frame members 20g and it has secured on each end thereof a cam 150 adapted to rotate in the direction of the arrow 151. The .cams 150 are adapted to engage rollers 152 mounted upon the lower ends of the posts or plungers 77 which slide vertically in bearing brackets 154 carried by the side frame members 20g. The upper ends of the plungers 77 are connected to the transverse overhead bar 76 which has secured to the under side thereof the heating shoe 44 and the pressure platens 45 and 46, as previously described. The ends of the bar 76 are attached by connecting members 156 to coil springs 157 which extend downwardly and are attached to the upper arms 158e of two-armed levers 158 pivoted at 159 on the frame. These springs 157 tend normally to move the bar 76 downwardly to press the heating shoe 44 down against the tape 22 and to press the tape and to move the platens 45 and 46 downwardly to engage the hosiery on the table and thereby press it downwardly against the tapes and the pad 78, and also against the heating shoes 48 and 49 when they are in their elevated positions.

To insure the yielding pressure of the heating shoe 44 and the platens 45 and 46 on the hosiery in all angular positions of the cam shaft 149, the lower arms 15012 of the levers 158 are arranged tobe actuated by cams 169 (Fig. l) xed on the shaft 149 so that the springs 157 are extended by these cams 169 when the transfer is made. When the cam shaft 149 is rotated by the driving motor 145, the cams 150 are rotated and periodically elevate the heating shoe 44 and the pressure platens 45 and 46 against the tension of the springs 157.

@ne of the cams 150 has mounted thereon, in a slot 160, a disk 161 which is adapted to turn on its pivot as the cam 150 rotates. To the outer portion of this disk 161 there is connected a sprocket chain 162 which extends upwardly and partially around a sprocket 163 keyed to the drive shaft 35 with its end secured to this sprocket. Another sprocket chain 164 (Figs. 2 and 6) has one end secured to another sprocket 167 xed on the shaft 85 and extends downwardly therefrom with the other extremity thereof attached to a coil spring 165. The opposite end of this spring is attached at 166 to the frame member 20a. Thus, as the cam 150, carrying the disk 161, is rotated by the motor 145, the chain 162 causes a partial revolution of the sprocket 163 and as the cam returns to its initial position, the sprocket 163 is returned to its initial position by the spring acting on the chain 164 around the sprocket 167. This intermittent rotary movement of the sprocket 163 is made use of to impart a corresponding movement to the drive shaft 05.

The cam shaft 149 also effects the elevation of the heating shoes 48 and 49 to their operating positions by means Of two cams which are fixed on the shaft 149 (see Fig. l0) and which engage rollers 181 mounted on the lower ends of the plungers and 186 which have mounted on the upper ends thereof the shoes 48 and 49,

respectively. These shoes are heated by internal heating elements connected in an electric circuit and they are mounted to slide in' bearing brackets 187 secured to the transverse frame member 20h. When the cams are in the positions shown in Fig. 10, the heating shoes 48 and 49 are elevated to engage the undersides of the tapes 23 and 24 and thereby soften the indicia carried by these tapes. The heating shoes are held in this elevated position, during the continued operation of the machine, by a lever 188 which is pivoted at 189 on a bracket 190 carried by the frame member 20h and arranged to be actuated by a spring 188a to cause the lever 183 to engage notches 185e and 186:1 in the plungers 185 and 186, respectively.

The lever 188 remains in this position (Fig. l0) until the operation of the machine is stopped either by the deH pression of a stop switch button 192 or by the actuation of a linger 197 (Figs. l, 2, and 3) and which normally rests upon the hosiery H carried by the belt 25 immediately in advance of the position where the transfer takes place. The stop switch button 192 is part of a conventional switch (see Fig. 14) and is mounted on the top of a control cabinet 194 along with a start switch button 191 and a jog motor switch button 193, to be described later. The cabinet 194 is attached to the left hand front part of the frame 20 with the several buttons 191, 192 and 193 level with the table top 21.

Referring to the second of these stop" operations, the linger 197 is of such length as to pass over the gap between adjacent pairs of hosiery without substantial movement. However, if the supply of hosiery on the conveyor belts fails, the tinger 197 will then drop down and turn its shaft 201 with a resulting angular movement of a lever arm 202, which is mounted on the shaft and which carries a vertical rod 203 mounted for sliding movement in a bracket 204. The lower end of the rod 203 is connected to the free end of a lever 205 which is pivoted at 206 on a bracket 207. The depression of the lever 205 actuates the plunger 208a of an electric switch 208 which is thereby operated to close the circuit of the heating shoe release solenoid 210 (Fig. l). Upon being energized, the solenoid 210 moves its core downwardly to act-nate the `bell-crank lever 211 and thereby cause the rod 212 to push the lever 188 out of engagement with the notches in the plungers 135 and 186. When the heating shoes 48 and 49 are released by the lever 133, by the means just described or the stop button-actuated switch 192, the lowering of the shoes by gravity causes contact screws 214 and 214er on the arm 213 to open the normally-closed switches 215 and 21511. The switch 215 opens the circuits of the motor 145 and stops the machine. The switch 215s opens the circuit to the solenoid 210.

Tn order to insure an instant stoppage of the machine, with no further movement of the cam shaft 149 or parts controlled thereby, the shaft of the motor 145 has fixed thereon a brake disk 216 (Fig. 2) adapted to be engaged by two brake shoes 217 which are pivotally mounted on intermediate parts of upright rods 228 and219 which have their lower ends pivotally supported on a block 220 mounted on the frame member 20b. The rod 21S is pivoted at 221 to a. lever 222 and at a point above this pivot the lever is pivotally connected at 223 to a rod 224 which extends through an aperture in the rod 218 and is engaged by a coil spring 225 which extends between the lever 218 and a washer 226 which is held in adjusted position by a nut 227 engaging the threaded end of the rod. The rod 219 extends between the rollers 223, mounted on the lever 222, and a transverse pin 229 in the upper end of the rod 219 limits the upward movement of this lever 222.

The spring 225 normally causes an upward swinging of the lever 222 with the result that the upper ends of the rods 218 and 219 are moved toward each other and caused to enga-ge the brake disk. The free end of the lever 222 is connected by a link 230 to a solenoid 231 which is mounted in fixed position on the frame. When the motor 145 is started in operation, the solenoid 231 is energized and the link 230 is actuated to lower the lever 222 and thereby release the brake disk 216 from the brake shoes 217. This condition continues until the circuit of the motor 145 is broken by either of the means described above, whereupon the solenoid 231 is simultaneously deenergized, thus causing the brake shoes 217 to again be applied by the spring 225, with the result that the rotation of the motor shaft is instantly arrested.

The intermittent motion imparted to the conveyor belts 25 and 25a, to the roller chain conveyors 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, andto the tapes 22, 23, and 24 by the intermittent partial rotation of the drive shaft S5 is adapted to be controlled by an electric circuit in which the clutch` operating solenoids 94, 109, and 115 (Fig. 6) are actuated to disengage the clutches 90, 103,'and 104, respectively, so that the movement of the conveyors and the transfer tapes will be periodically arrested at the proper times when hosiery is located at transfer position. These circuits for actuating the clutch on the shaft 83a and the clutches 103 and 104 on the shaft 35, are controlled by microswitches 235, 236 and 237 (see Fig. 14) which form a part of the respective switch-actuating devices 37 and 37a controlled by the indicia ou the transfer tapes 22, 23, and 24 respectively, as these tapes move upwardly from the supply reels 32, 33, and 34. Y

In Fig. 1l is shown one of the two switch-actuating devices 37, a part of which is the microswitch 235 or 237. In Figs. 12 and 13 is shown the switch-actuating device 37a and of which the microswitch 236 is a part. The essential difference between the device 37 and the device 37a is that in the latter the tape contact wheels are of the same size but are not relatively adjustable as they are in the former devices.

As shown in Fig. l1, the microswitch 235 (or 237) is pivoted between the arms of a U-shaped bracket 239 which is secured to a plate 240. The casing of the switch 235 is engaged by two adjusting screws 241 and 242 and which pass through threaded apertures in the plate 240 and are held in adjusted position by lock nuts 243. By adjusting the screws 241 and 242 the microswitch 235 may be located sothat its plunger 23511 is located in the desired position with respect to a switch operating lever 255. The plate 240 is secured by studs 244 to a shoulder bracket 245 which is attached at one side of a frame 246 on which the other parts of the tape indicia-controlled actuating-switch device 37 are mounted.

The tape 22, passing Ithrough rollers 251 from the coil 32, extends between a Wheel 252 and a roller 253 on the device 37 (Fig. 1l). The wheel 252 is of rather large diameter but comparatively narrow in width, whereas the roller 253 is small in diameter but of a width approximately equal to that of the indicia tape 22 (or 24) with which the device 37 is to be used. The roller 253 is journaled on the frame 246 in radial alinernent with the wheel 252. The wheel 252 is rotatably on a shaft 257 mounted in a bearing 252a carried by a yoke-like switch-operating lever 255. This lever 255 is pivoted on a shaft 256 on the frame 246. The angular arms of the lever 255 extend outwardly and their ends are secured `to a plate 247 which is adapted to engage and operate the plunger 235:1 of the switch 235 in response to the movement of indicia on the tape between the wheel 252 and roller 253. The increased thickness of the tape 22, at a point where an indicia is located, causes a separation of the wheel 252 from the roller 253 with a resulting pivotal movement of the lever 255. The length of this lever causes the relative movement of the wheel 252 to be magnied at the point where the switch-op erating lever 255 engages the plunger 235a of the switch 235. Thus, the switch 235 is actuated each time that an indicia on'the tape passes between the wheel 252 agseaeas and roller 253. The tape 22 then continues outwardly over the rollers 79 and 80 around the heating shoe 44 and back to and between the roll 38 rand roller 33a to the reel 50. A spring in the switch 235 presses the lever 255 to maintain vthe wheel 252 in contact with the indicia tape 22 (or 24).

The wheel 252 is slidable on the shaft 257 and is held in place by retractable spring clips 262 embracing the shaft on opposite sides of the Wheel hub. Being thus slidable on the shaft 257, the wheel 252 may be so positioned, transversely of lthe tape 22, as to insure the periphery of the wheel always being contacted by the indicia 31 on the tape 22.

An indicia-tape switch-actuated device 37, such as described above, is positioned on the front of the machine to be actuated by the tape 24 (Fig. 2). The mounting of such a device requires the attachment of a pair of S-shaped arms 258 and a plate 259 as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1l. The plate 259 is formed with holes 269 through which studs may be inserted for anchoring the device 37 at the front of ythe frame 2h as indicated in `Fig. 2. r1`he positioning of the device 37 is such as to permit the tape 24 to pass upwardly from the reel 34 over the roller 36 and between the wheel 252 and roller 253 before that tape moves over the roll it? toward the transfer position.

The mechanism for actuating the switch 236 of the device 37a, by indicia on the tape 23, which occupies a position beneath the sole portion of the hosiery, is similar to that employed in connection with the tapes 22 and 24 except that no provision is made for adjustment, as in the case of the above-described device 37.

As will be seen from Figs. 14 and l5 the switch 236 is pivoted at 270 on a bracket 271 carried by a plate 272 secured to a supporting block 273 by threaded studs 27s. Adjusting screws 275 and 276 pass through threaded apertures in the plate 272 and engage the forward side of the switch 236 for the purpose of tilting the switch about the pivot and bringing its plunger 236:1 into operative position with respect to the switch actuating lever 277. These adjusting screws 275 and 275 may be secured in the desired position by lock nuts 278. The block 273 extends rearwardly and has secured hereto a bracket 286 which at its lower end provides support for the switch-actuating wheels 281 and 282 as well as for two guide rollers 263 between which the tape 23 passes as it moves upwardly from the coil 33. The wheel 231 is mounted to rotate on a shaft 284 fixed in bosses 233s which form parts of the bracket 280. The other switchactuating wheel 282 is journaled ina bearing 25251 carried by the lever 277 and this lever `is in turn journaled on a shaft 266 which is mounted in a boss formed in the lower part of the bracket 283. Thus, when indicia on the tape pass between the rolls 281 and 232 the increased thickness causes a separation of the wheels which is magnied by the length of the lever 277 so that the upper end 277a thereof actuates the switch plunger 236:1 to cause the operation of the clutch actuating solenoid 169 to arrest the movement of the conveyor belt 25 and the roller chain conveyors 26, 27, and 23, by which the hosiery is moved rearwardly over the table. The tape 23 passing through the rollers 263 continue upwardly from the wheels 281 and 282 and over the roll 39 on the shaft 69a, being held in contact with this roll 39 by one of thesrnall rollers i1 as previously described.

Provision is made for varying the length of the respective indicia tapes 22, 23, and 24 between their respective indicia-actuating switch devices 37 and 37a and the transfer position.

For the tape 22 this adjustment is effected by the relative shifting of a bracket 283 on a bracket support 28d (see Figs. l and 2). rlhe bracket 233 has the portion carrying the roller Si) olset from the portion that is slidably supported on the bracket support 234. Suitable studs 235, threaded into the 'bracket '283' and ex'- tending through and movable in slots 286 on the support 234, permit the roller to Vbe raised or lowered and thereby increase or decrease the length of the tape 22 between the roller 80 and transfer position as the tape 22 travels over the heating shoe 44.

For the tapes 23 and 24 this adjustment is eifected -by rollers 237 (see Fig. 15) journaled on the forked ends 28S of rods 239 slidably supported on the arms 42 which mount the rollers 39 and t). By shifting the rods 239 axialiy, the rollers 237 increase or decrease the length of the respective tapes 23 and 24 between the respective indicia-actuating switch devices 37a and 37 and the rolls 39 and di) and consequently between these devices 37a and 37 and the transfer position. Set vscrews 290 on the arms t2 secure the respective rods 239 in their adjusted positions.

After the tapes 22, 23, and 24 have moved along the table 21, and had their indicia impressed on the hosiery and have passed the transfer station, they are wound around the reeis 51o, 51, and 52, respectively, driven from the drive shaft 35.

The shaft 56a, which mounts the reel 5t) on the bracket 75, has a sprocket 292 keyed thereto and connected by a chain 293 to a sprocket 294, operatively connected to the left hand end of the shaft 83a.

This shaft 83a is driven from the drive shaft 85 (see Figs. 1 and 6) by a chain 299 connecting the sprockets 30o and 361 on the respective `shafts 33a and 85. The chain 299 runs over an idler sprocket 317 to elect proper action between the shafts 83a and S5. The sprocket 301 is connected to the shaft 85 by an over-running clutch 31S-such as kshown in Fig. S-to permit the turning of the shaft 83a by the hand wheel 318 when the tape 22 requires adjusting in order to register properly the indicia thereon with the heating shoe 44 at transfer position.

For the reels 51 and 52, the previously-mentioned sprocket S9 (see Figs. 3 .and 6) is connected by chain 296 to a sprocket 297 on a jack-shaft 298 (see Fig. 2) journaled in bearings on the frame members 29a. Sprockets on this jack-shaft 29S are connected by chains 302 and 3ti3 with the respective shafts 304 and 305 for the reels 51 and 52. The reels 50, `51, and 52 are of a construction and operation as fully shown and described in said copending application.

1n order to permit imprinting from the overhead tape 22 independently of and conjunctive with imprinting from the tapes 23 and 24, three special switches 396, 307 and 303 have been provided. The switch 306 (Figs. 3 and 17) is mounted on the side frame member 20c in position to be actuated by the clamps 47 (Fig. 4) which connect the conveyor belt 25 to the Aroller chain conveyor 26. The other two switches 367 and 368 are included in the circuit (see Figs. 1 and 16) so as to permit either the cutting inof switch 306 for its proper functioning when imprinting only from tape 22 or cutting out switch 3% and cutting in switches 235, 236 and/or 237 when imprinting from the tape 22 simultaneously with imprinting from the tapes 23, and 24 or when imprinting from the tapes 23 and/or 24 independently of the tape 22.

The switch 3% is a microswitch of the same type and mounting as switches 235, 236, and 237, hereinbefore described.

This switch 336 (see Figs. l and 17) is pivoted at 309 between the arms of a U-shaped bracket 31@ which is secured to a rocker arm 326 by a pair of relativelyadjustable angle plates 311 and 312. The switch 306 is thus positioned just forwardly of the front frame member 20d and directly rearwardly of the line of attachment of the conveyor belt 25 to the roller chain conveyor 26 by the clamps 47. This positions the plunger 306a of the switch 306 so as to be contacted by the clamps 47 on the conveyor belt 25 as they move around the roller 38.

The rocker arm 326 is journaled at its inner end on the shaft 60a (Fig. 17) and extends forwardly therefrom and is adjustably secured in a circumferential relationship to the shaft by a conventional knurled-headed and shouldered screw 327 extending through an arcuate slot 328 in the forward end of the rocker arm 326 and threaded into the frame member 20c. This swinging of the rocker arm 326 permits the switch 306 to be so circumferentially adjusted with respect to the roll 38 as to secure the desired positioning of the switch plunger 306a with respect to the trip clamps 47 as will effect the proper arresting of the conveyor belt 25 at transfer position when the imprinting is to be done.

Studs 313 extending through slots in one of the angle plates 311, 312 is threaded into the other angle plate to permit an adjustment horizontally of the switch 306 to insure more nearly perfect alinement of the plunger 306a with the clamps 47.

The casing of the switch 306 is engaged by two adjustable screws 314 and 315 which pass through threaded apertures in the bracket 310 and are held adjusted by lock nuts 316. By turning the screws 314 and 315 the switch 306 may be adjusted in a vertical plane to further insure the most effective contact of the plunger 306:1 with the conveyor clamps 47.

As shown in the Wiring diagram in Fig. 16, this switch 306 is connected to control the energization of the solenoids 109 and 115 and thereby control the operation of the clutches 103 and 104 for arresting the movement of the conveyor belt 25 and its connected roller chain conveyor 26 when the hosiery thereon reaches, the transfer position and imprinting is being done only from overhead tape 22. The switches 307 and 308 are located in the control cabinet 194 at the front of the machine and are so connected in the circuit (see Fig. 16) as to establish circuits to permit the energization of the solenoids 109 and 115 as had been explained previously here- 1n.

In order to facilitate the quick and proper positioning of the tapes 23, and/or 24 after a new roll has been placed on the coil 31 and/or 32, and the end thereof attached to the tape already on the machine, a jog motor 320 is mounted on the frame 20 near the front end thereof and outwardly of the drive motor 145. (See Fig. 2.) A sprocket 321 on the shaft of the jog" motor 320 is connected by chain 322 to a sprocket 323 on the end of the shaft section 60a through a conventional overrunning clutch 324 such as that shown in Fig. 8. The switch button 193, mounted on the top of the control cabinet 194 is 'adapted to hold closed a normally-open switch 193er (see Fig. 16) to effect the operation of the jog motor 320 for such time as may be required to position the tape indicia in transfer position.

The connections of the switches which have been re" ferred to above and other features of the operating electric circuit are shown in Fig. 16 where the alternating current for the circuit is indicated as being supplied through line conductors 330 and 331. A cut-off switch 333 is included in the circuit to permit it to be manually disconnected by the operator when the machine is not in use. Three manually-operated switches 334, 335, and 336 are provided for closing the circuits of the heating shoes 44, 47, and 48 and pilot lights 337, 338, and 339 are provided to indicate when the circuits of the heating shoes are closed. Thermostatc devices 340, 341, and 342 are connected in circuit with the shoes to control automatically the degree of heating thereof.

Y The closing of the switch 333 renders the circuit operative and when the switch 191a is closed, the motor 145 is started in operation and the brake solenoid 231 is energized. The rotation of the cam shaft 149 then raises the heating shoes 48 and 49 to the elevated positions shown which causes the switch 215 to assume its normjally-closed position. If the linger 197 drops off the hosiery, the normally-closed switch 215 is opened and the motor is stopped, as previously described, andthe brake-shoe solenoid 231 is deenergized.

The microswitches 235, 236, and 237 are closed by the indicia on the tapes and, since the closing is etfected by the first portion of the indicia which actuate the switchoperating levers 255 (277) to strike the respective switch plungers, means must be provided for establishing holding circuits for the clutch-operating solenoids 94, 109, and 115, so that the circuits of these solenoids will not be immediately opened when the plungers of the switches 235, 236 and 237 are released by the passing of the rst portions only of the indicia. Accordingly, three relays 345, 346 and 347 are provided and they are energized when the microswitches 235, 236, and 237 are closed to maintain the circuits of the clutch-operating solenoids 90, 109, and 115 until the indicia on the tapes have passed the plungers of the respective switches. The relays 345, 346, and 347 can only be energized When the plunger 348a of a switch 348 is on the low part of a cam 350 (Fig. 10) fixed on the cam shaft 149. After the transfer operation has been completed by the pressure platen and the heating shoes, the shaft 149 will have carried the cam 350 around to the point where the plunger 348e then rides on the high part of the cam 350 with the result that the switch 350 is opened and remains open until the microswitches 235, 236, and 237 are again operated by the next following indicia on the tapes. When the switch 348 is opened the clutch solenoids 94, 109, and 115 are deenergized so that the clutches 90, 103, and 104 automatically close to permit the movement of the conveyor belts, roller chain conveyors, and the tapes to resume.

The general operation of this improved transfer machine is as follows:

The operator stands at the front of the machine (right of Fig. 1, left of Figs. 2 and 3) and places the first pair of hosiery H under the fingers 197 and on top of the conveyor belt 25 and chain conveyor 26 (and possibly chain conveyors 27 and 28 and conveyor belt 25a, if the over-all length of the folded hosiery requires). Successively in advance of this first pair of folded hosiery other pairs are placed, and, as the machine operates, still other pairs are successively placed in position on the conveyors as they move toward transfer position.

The start button 191 is depressed and consequent energization of the circuits, as shown in Fig. 16, results in the retracting of the drive-motor brake shoes 217 and the starting of the motor 145. The rotation of the cam shaft 149, among other actions to be described hereinafter, causes one of the cams 150 to so extend the diskconnected sprocket chain 162, connected to the sprocket 163, as to rotate the drive shaft 85. The clutches 103 and 104 being normally in driving engagement with the shaft 85, causes the sprockets 86, 87, and 88, to advance the chain conveyors 27, 28 and 29 and through the sprockets 56, 57, and 58 cause the advance of the conveyor belts 25 and 25a along the table 21 toward transfer position.

This rotation of the shaft 85 also causes the rotation of the shaft 83a and the winding-reel shafts 50a, 304, and 305. The rotation of the shaft 83a is effected through the sprocket 301 and its over-running clutch 318, chain 299, sprocket 300, and clutch 90. The rotation of the reel shaft 50a is effected through the medium of the sprocket 292, chain 293, and sprocket 294. The rotation of the winding-reel shafts 304 and 305 (for the tapes 23 and 24) is effected by the sprocket 89, chain 296, sprocket 297, and the chains 302 and 303.

The indicia tape 22, when that is used, is threaded through the switch control device 37, around the rollers 79, 80, 82, 82a, and 82b back through the feed roll 38 and contact roller 84 and then to the winding reel 50.

Indicia tapes 23 and/ or 24, when they are to be used, are threaded through their respective switch control devices 37a and 37 respectively, around the rolls 39 and 40 13 on the shaft 60, along the table 21, over the wires 117 and 118 and then to the respective winding reels 51 and 52.

The rotation of the cam shaft 149 also causes the cams 180 to elevate the heating shoes 48 and 49 whereupon they are locked in position by the spring-actuated bar 188. Moreover, the rotation of the cam 150 acting on the rocker arm 158, at the appropriate time, causes the overhead bar 76 to move downwardly. This will move the heating shoe 44 and the platens 45, and 46 downwardly, causing the shoe 44 to press the hosiery H against the conveyor belt 25 and the underlying pad 78, and causing the platens 45 and 46 to press the hosiery down against the tapes 23 and/or 24 and against the respective heating shoes 4S and 49.

Obviously, during these movements caused by the rotation of the drive shaft S5, hosiery, on the conveyor belt 25 and chain conveyors 26, 27, and/or 28, is moved into the transfer position.

All of these movements are so coordinated and/ or synchronized that the hosiery H and tape indicia arrive at the transfer position and their movement momentarily is arrested as they are brought into pressured Contact with the heating shoes 44, 48, and 49 for effecting the transfer.

As hereinbefore pointed out, this machine may be operated with only the tape 22 for imprinting the heel of hosiery, or the tape 22 may be used conjunctively with tapes 23 and/or 24 for imprinting the sole and/or toe respectively, or tapes 23 and/or 24 may be used individually and independently of tape 22.

Assume, for the moment, the machine is to be operated only with tape 22. As one of the indicia 31 on the tape passes between the wheel 252 and roller 253 of the switch device 37 the wheel is slightly elevated. The movement of the wheel is so accentuated by the lever 255, on which the wheel is mounted, that the switch plunger 235a of the switch 239 is depressed. Thereupon the solenoid 94 is energized so that the link 94a. actuates the lever 95 to disengage the clutch 90 and free the roll 83 from driving relation with the shaft 33a. The rotation of the roll 83 is instantly arrested by the brake shoes 120a. Such disengagement of the clutch 90 occurs at the instant another indicia on the tape 22 is centrally positioned on the bottom of the heating shoe 44.

Simultaneously with the actuation of the switch plunger 235:1 by the lever 255, the switch trip clamp 47, on the conveyor belt 25, contacts and depresses the switch plunger 306:1 of the switch 306. The depression of that plunger energizes the solenoids 109 and 115 and results in the retraction of clutches 103 and 104 and a consequent instantaneous arresting of the rotation of the shaft sections 60a and 60h yby the engagement of the brake shoes 120.

Thereupon the advance of the hosiery H on the conveyor belt 25 (and the chain conveyors 26, 27, and 28) is momentarily arrested at the transfer position at precisely the same instant that the movement of the tape 22 is arrested with one of the indicia centered on the heating shoe 44. At that instant, the shoe 44 is moved downward, by the action of the cam 150 as previously noted, with the resulting imprinting of the indicia on the upper side of the heel portion of the hosiery.

Just before the indicia on the tape 22 moves into contact with the wheel 252, of the switch control device 37, and as the clamp 47 approaches the switch plunger 306a, the plunger 348e of the switch 348 (Fig. drops down onto the low part of the cam 350. This closes the circuits to the solenoids 90, 109, and 115 subject to their being energized as above explained, by the actuation of the switch plungers 235a and 306:1. As this other plunger 348a on switch 348 rides up onto the high point of the cam 350 the circuits to these solenoids 90, 109, and 115 are opened so that the springs 107 and 113 close the respective clutches 103, and 104, and the machine continues its operation for another cycle, advancing the tape assignee 14 22 another indicia and the conveyor 25 another pair of hosiery.

In the event the tapes 23 and/or 24 are to be used conjunctively with tape 22, switches 307 and 308 are shifted so as to cut out switch 306, whereupon the momentary arresting of the conveyor belts 25 and 25a and the chain conveyors 26, 27, and 28 is effected by the passing of the indicia on the tapes 23 and/ or 24 between the wheels 281 and 282 and/or between the wheel 252 and the roller 253 of the switch devices 37a and 37 respectively. These switch devices cause the energization of the solenoids 109 and and the consequent momentary arresting of the tape 23 and/ or 24 at the transfer position, as well as the momentary arresting of the conveyor belts 25 and 25a and the roller chain conveyors, with superimposed hosiery, at the transfer position.

if at any time, the tape 22, 23 and/or 24 are not properly positioning the indicia at transfer position, a linear adjustment of the tapes may be effected manually by turning the hand wheels 132, 62, and 63, respectively. Similarly, if at any time the momentary arresting of the conveyor belt 25 is not properly positioning the heel of hosiery at transfer position, an adjustment of the switch 306 can be made relative to the trip clamp 47.

When the operator wishes to stop the machine, the depression of the stop button 192 will eect that result. 1n the event there is a gap in the successive placing of hosiery on the conveyors, the approach of the vacant space to the finger 197 will cause the finger to drop and thereby open the circuit to the motor and close the circuit to the solenoid 231. Thereupon the cam shaft will be instantly checked by the application of the brake shoes 217.

When a new roll of tape 23 or 24 is to be placed on the machine, the end of a new tape is appropriately attached to the end of the former tape and the jog motor switch 193 held depressed a sufficient length of time for the motor 320 to move the new piece of tape to locate the indicia in registration at the transfer position.

As occasion may require, the length of the tapes 22, 23, and/or 24, between the respective switch control devices 37 and 37a and the transfer position, may be altered to insure proper registering of the indicia on the hosiery. For tape 22 this can be effected by the relative adjustment of the brackets 283 and 284 (see Fig. 2). For either tapes 23 and 24 this can be effected by the shifting of the respective rod 289 on the arm 42 (see Fig. 15).

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments which come within the scope of the appended claims. In the claims the apparatus is referred to in connection with the application of indicia to hosiery but the invention may be employed in connection with other articles of fabric or other material.

I claim:

l. The combination in an apparatus for transferring indicia simultaneously to heel and sole of folded hosiery, of conveyor means for successively moving the hosiery in spaced relation past a transfer position, a plurality of tapes carrying equally-spaced raised indicia to be transferred to opposite sides of the hosiery, means disposed above the conveyor means for moving one of the tapes toward said transfer position, other means dis posed below the conveyor means for moving another tape toward said transfer position, reciprocable means for applying heat and pressure to the tapes at said transfer position, and means for synchronizing the movement of the conveyor means, the tape moving means, and the heat and pressure reciprocating means.

2. The combination in an apparatus for transferring indicia to hosiery, of a supporting platform, a conveyor for moving hosiery in spaced relation along the platform past a transfer position, means for moving the conveyor,

a vertically-reciprocable bar mounted above Vthe platform at said transfer position, a heating shoe mounted on said bar above the conveyor at said transfer position, a second Vertically-reciprocable heating shoe mounted on the platform in said transfer position at the side of and below the conveyor, a platen on the bar in opposition to the second heating shoe, a tape carrying equallyspaced raised indicia to be transferred to the hosiery at said transfer position, means arranged above the conveyor for moving the tape under the heating shoe at said transfer position, means actuated by the indicia in another position for momentarily inactivating the tape moving means and arresting the movement of the tape when indicia is in said transfer position, a second tape carrying equally-spaced raised indicia to be transferred to the hosiery, means for moving the second tape along the platform over the second heating shoe at said transfer position, .means actuated by the indicia on the second tape in another position for momentarily inactivating the second tape moving means and the conveyor moving means when indicia is in transfer position over the second heating shoe and thereby simultaneously arrest momentarily the movement of the conveyor and the second tape when hosiery and the second-tape indicia are in said transfer position, and means synchronized with the arrested movement of the tape and the conveyor for actuating the reciprocating bar to effect the pressure of the heating shoes against the respective tapes and hosiery at said transfer position.

3. The combination in apparatus for transferring indicia simultaneously to opposite sides of hosiery, of a plurality of conveyors engageable With spaced portions of said hosiery for moving said hosiery in spaced relation to a transfer position, means for actuating said conveyors, a plurality of tapes carrying equally spaced indicia to be transferred to said hosiery, two of said tapes being located on opposite sides of said hosiery, means for moving said tapes in unison with said conveyors, means for applying heat and pressure to said tapes and said hosiery at said transfer position, and means for synchronizing the movements of said conveyors with said tape moving means.

4. The combination in apparatus for transferring indicia simultaneously to opposite sides of hosiery, of a plurality of spaced conveyors arranged to support and move hosiery to a transfer position, an indicia carrying tape movable with said conveyors beneath said hosiery, a second indicia carrying tape movable with said conveyors above said hosiery, means for actuating said tapes and said conveyors in unison to move said hosiery to said position, means in said transfer position for applying heat to the underside of said first named tape and to the upper side of said second named tape, and means for applying pressure to said hosiery on the sides thereof opposite to places of application of heat to said tapes.

5, The combination in apparatus for transferring indicia simultaneously to opposite sides of hosiery, of a plurality of spaced conveyors arranged to support and move hosiery to a transfer position, an indicia carrying tape movable with said conveyors beneath said hosiery, a second indicia carrying tape movable with said conveyors above said hosiery, means for actuating said tapes and said conveyors in unison to move said hosiery to said position, means in said transfer position for applying heat to the underside of said rst named tape and to the upper side of said second named tape, means for applying pressure to said hosiery on the sides thereof opposite to places of application of heat to said tapes, and means for synchronizing the movements of said conveyors.

6. The combination in apparatus for transferring indicia simultaneously to opposite sides of hosiery, of a plurality of spaced conveyors arranged to support and move hosiery to a transfer position, an indicia carrying tape movable with said conveyors beneath said hosiery, a second indicia carrying tape movable with said conveyors above said hosiery, and means for imparting stepby-step movements to said conveyors and to said tapes.

7` The combination in apparatus for transferring indicia simultaneously to opposite sides of hosiery, of a plurality of spaced conveyors arranged to support and move hosiery to a transfer position, an indicia carrying tape movable with said conveyors beneath said hosiery, a second indicia carrying tape movable with said conveyors above said hosiery, means for imparting step-by-step movements to said conveyors and to said tapes, and means for synchronizing the movements of said tapes with the movements of said conveyors.

8. The combination in apparatus for transferring indicia to hosiery, of a plurality of endless conveyor chains, conveyor belts mounted for movement alongside said conveyor chains, means for imparting step-by-step movements to said conveyor chains, means connecting said chains to said belts to actuate said belts, and means mounted on said chains for engaging hosiery resting on said belts to insure movement of said hosiery with said belts.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

